The true meaning of 'comfort food'

Dietetics senior Kelly Wagner loves studying nutrition—and deeply cares about children. This dual passion turned her Iowa State honors project into a real-life experience. Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa, is going to give children undergoing cancer treatment her kid-friendly cookbook to help with their dietary needs. Kelly’s Children’s Cookbook During and After Cancer Treatment features nutritional recipes that are more than just tasty—they also alleviate sore mouth, lack of appetite, and other ailments chemotherapy can cause.

Iowa State University encourages students like Kelly to explore their interests and make the world a better place. Whether it’s writing a cookbook, researching with professors to turn algae into a new energy source, or joining a club to build the next generation robot for NASA, Iowa State students have a tradition of accomplishing amazing things.

Kelly is using this experience to help her become a clinical dietitian. That way, she can specialize in bringing a smile as well as some good food to kids in the hospital—who need a little taste of normal.